InsaneJournal

Ceasefire.

Hannah, Susan and Ernie.

The battle had been raging for hours, and Hannah felt that she was in an entirely different lifetime than the one she’d be roused from when Ernie asked about staying to fight. But still it was dark, and Hannah could hardly see where she was going as she made her way across the grounds – she’d somehow ended up near the Forbidden Forest, and if that’s where You-Know-Who was waiting, that’s exactly where she did not want to be – toward the illuminated castle.

Her eyes focused on the large castle doors, Hannah didn’t even notice a dark shape on the ground before her until she’d fallen over it. It was too squishy to be a tree root, and she felt sick to her stomach as she pulled out her wand, whispering “Lumos” and holding it out before her. The pale rays fell upon the even paler face of Remus Lupin, and Hannah’s eyes widened as she took in the complete stillness of his body, the absolute lack of breath or a heartbeat or anything else that might indicate he was anything other than dead.

For a moment, she didn’t breathe either. Lupin had been their professor. Their Defence professor at that. To see him lying there, cold and lifeless, was a harsh reminder of the realities of war. Hannah wasn’t alive because she was particularly skilled at dueling. She wasn’t alive because of everything she’d practiced with the DA. She was still alive, and relatively unharmed, because she’d been incredibly, unbelievably lucky. And there was no chance that everybody she cared about had fared similarly.

But through it all, she remembered the cold voice that had reverberated over the grounds. Dispose of your dead with dignity. She had to get Professor Lupin into the castle. Hand shaking, it took her a few tries to cast an effective levitation spell, but from there it was only a few meters until she reached the main doors.

Ernie’s heart was still racing as he made his way through the castle down toward the Great Hall. He’d passed by a dead Death Eater on his way, but had not felt at all moved to do anything with the body. Coming from one of the top floors, it took some time for him to reach the ground, and by the time he was coming out of the corridor into the grand entrance way, some of the adrenaline had started to wear off, making him notice the exhaustion which plagued his body to the core. His face was still angry and red with the boils that had bubbled from the burns during his earlier fight against Alecto Carrow, which still made seeing out of his right eye difficult. it didn’t however, keep him from recognizing Hannah.

The instant he saw her, it was like a second wind had revived him, and his pace turned into a run. After they’d lost touch hours ago, concern for her well being had sifted in and out of his mind, and the relief to see she was alive (and relatively unharmed, as far he could tell) made him forgot about all of the terrible things that had happened so far. He stopped short of hugging her when he noticed she had a body levitating just above. The somber reality hit him hard, especially after he’d recognized it as Professor Lupin.

“Hannah,” he said in a serious, somber tone, averting his eyes from the body as he reached out to squeeze her free hand briefly. The stinging in his face made him squint, blinking back a tear, which he wasn’t sure was from the pain, or from the relief of seeing her.

Hannah was so focused on Professor Lupin and the uncharacteristically pessimistic thoughts running through her head that she’d hardly noticed Ernie until he said her name. It was perfect: if she could’ve picked who she would see in the Entrance Hall, she would’ve picked him. So when he reached for her hand, she threw her arms around him, accidentally dropping Lupin’s body several feet before she remembered herself and righted him.

She pulled away from Ernie so that she could take a good look at his face, which was covered in burns and boils and looked exceedingly painful. Hannah winced sympathetically, wondering if they could find Julian or someone to help patch Ernie up a bit, but mostly she was just glad to see him alive. “Ernie,” she said, looking between his wounds and the body levitating nearby, “We need to go to the Great Hall.” She took his hand in hers, gently steering both Ernie and Professor Lupin the right direction.

Ernie had wanted to say something when she hugged him, noticing Lupin’s body falling, but luckily Hannah was able to pull back and catch him quickly enough. He smiled at her, painful though it was. Seeing her in one piece was a relief and he allowed himself to enjoy that knowledge, pushing back the plaguing thoughts about what might have happened to everyone else.

He nodded at her when she mentioned Lupin, face going slightly ashen. It was hard to imagine someone like Lupin falling - he’d been their only real Defense professor. That made his stomach twist more, as the thoughts he’d been keeping at bay, flooded his mind. Susan, Julian, and Wayne had all opted to stay as well. Stepping forward, he made it to the Great Hall door, opening it first and stepping back so that she could take the body in before him. “He was a great professor,” he said somberly. Ernie supposed they would find out who else had died in the fight soon enough, since the Great Hall seemed the logical place to put their bodies to rest.

“There. You’ll live.” Susan gave the student that she had just finished treating an encouraging smile, trying not to wonder for how long. She liked being here, making herself useful, but being confronted with all the deaths and injuries was harrowing, driving home just how risky this entire operation was. She’d already seen too many familiar faces among the crowd, some staring back lifeless and cold, and the thought of any of her friends being one of them was almost too much to bear. So Susan didn’t let herself linger on it, didn’t dare let herself wonder what had become of Hannah, or Megan, or Ernie once she had been separated from him.

Putting her supplies to the side, Susan looked up, eyes already seeking out her next patient. The familiar groan of the doors made her glance in that direction, heart jumping in her throat at the body that came floating through, followed by her two best friends. They were still alive. She felt almost guilty for her relief, in regards to the person that they were transporting, but still Susan rushed over towards the both of them, quickly raising her wand to help. “Are you okay?” she asked, almost in one breath.

“Susan!” Hannah felt a rush of joy at seeing her friend alive and whole. With Ernie and Susan beside her, she could almost feel like everything was okay. But it wasn’t, obviously -- the body she was levitating was enough proof of that. With Susan’s help, she maneuvered it onto the ground, her body sagging with relief as she halted the levitation charm. It had taken what felt like the very last of her energy, but she knew that here with Ernie and Susan she would find more.

“I’m fine,” she said, taking a quick mental inventory of the various cuts and bruises she’d received and reflecting again on how astonishingly lucky she was. “I’m fine, but I think Ernie needs some healing.” He’d be okay, she knew, because he was Ernie and he had to be okay. But she’d feel better when his face looked more like Ernie and less like a red balloon.

Ernie couldn’t believe his luck when he saw Susan rushing toward them. First Hannah, now her. Despite the fact that Hannah had been carrying Lupin’s body, he felt momentarily thankful that they were both in one piece. A quick pang of guilt followed when he realised how selfish it was to be glad the injuries and deaths were limited to other people. After Hannah had released Lupin from the air, he pulled both girls into a three-way hug, unable to keep himself from doing so.

After pulling back, he scrutinized both with a careful eye. “Are you sure you’re fine, Hannah?” he asked, ignoring for the moment, her comment about his need for medical attention. Although his face still ached from the fire it’d been subjected to hours ago, he wanted to make sure his friends weren’t suffering from injuries of their own. Turning to Susan, he looked at her, not really noticing anything out of the ordinary. “What happened to you when we got split up?” he asked, remembering the panicked feeling he’d had once he’d realised they’d been separated.

Hannah seemed all right enough, and Ernie not much more the worse for wear than he had been the last time she had laid eyes on him. Still, Hannah was right. He definitely needed to get those burns looked at. Susan clung tightly to the two of them for a few moments, sad eyes moving over towards Lupin once she had stepped back. Such a kind man he had been. It seemed unfair for a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to end up like this, but Susan knew by now what exactly the Death Eaters were capable of. They would not spare anyone.

“Come on,” she told the both of them, turning away from the faces of the dead in order to lead them through to the triage. They had set up makeshift beds and blankets were laid out on the floor, everything to help as many people as possible. A small group of witches and wizards stood around the area, guarding, and Susan nodded briefly at the one nearest to them, before guiding Hannah and Ernie over to where she had set up her things, immediately rummaging around for some burning salve. She waved for Ernie to sit down on one of the stools, pulling one up for herself as well.

“I’m fine. I managed to stun him,” she said, referring to the Death Eater who had been after her around the time she had lost sight of her cousin. The injuries she had suffered in the meantime were irrelevant and already forgotten. Pouring some of the salve onto her fingers, she gently took hold of Ernie’s chin, moving his head to the side so she could reach the burns. “This will sting,” she told him, her tone purposefully businesslike. She didn’t want Ernie or Hannah to know just how affected she was by the horrors of battle.

Hannah relaxed ever so slightly as Susan led them into the healing area and dabbed an ointment on Ernie’s face. Being together again felt good, and she liked watching Susan at work. It made her proud to see the small station that her friend had set up, to imagine all the good that had been done by those capable hands.

She pulled up another stool and sat down, hugging one of her knees with both arms. “I’m okay,” she repeated, hoping to assuage Ernie’s continued concern. Really, she was, and there were bigger things on her mind than the few small injuries she’d sustained over the past few hours. She rested her chin on her knee and mumbled, “I’ve been very lucky.” She was silent for a few moments, remembering You-Know-Who’s pitiless voice and the words it had spoken.

Reluctantly, Ernie sat down as Susan instructed. He wasn’t sure how he felt about using supplies here, since there were so many others whose injuries certainly trumped his. In the long term, the burns weren’t fatal and even if they would be ugly left to heal on their own, Ernie wasn’t particularly concerned with appearances now. Still he was grateful when the pain turned into a dull ache once Susan began applying the salve. The throb and ache of the burns had been there so long now that he’d almost forgotten what it felt like not to be in constant pain.

Ernie nodded at Hannah. “We all have,” he said softly. It really was pure luck that the three of them had managed to make here in one piece - one relatively unscathed piece. “I saw Harry earlier,” Ernie confided after Susan had finished fussing with his face. “Luna, Seamus, and I... we found them surrounded by dementors,” he added, feeling his chest rise with a surge of pride as he remembered how well they’d managed to cast patronuses in a time of need. “Harry, he’s got a plan.” Or at least, Ernie was convinced he did.

Much as she respected Harry, for the weeks leading up to today, Susan had begun to doubt whether he would return at all. To hear that he actually had a plan was reassuring, making her feel more determined about seeing this through. Hannah was right. They had been lucky so far, and she could only hope that it wouldn’t run out before Harry managed to complete what he had come here to do. “I’m glad we practiced those Patronus Charms,” Susan said, putting her supplies to the side. On a whim, she briefly moved in to hug Ernie again. She wasn’t generally one for elaborate displays of affection, but the fear going around the castle tonight was very real, and she was relieved to find her best friends still alive.

“I wonder if the She-Carrow has found her shoes yet,” Susan commented casually, turning her face away as she released Ernie from her embrace. She twirled Theodore’s wand in her hand. It was comforting somehow, even though she was barely aware that she kept repeating the action. “Ernie here has got a new admirer,” she told Hannah, casting a teasing glance at her cousin. Something was needed to pierce through the depressing atmosphere that ran through the entire Hall.

Hannah forced her eyes away from Professor Lupin’s body, which lay near all the Weasleys mourning one of the twins. She wondered where Harry was, and what he was doing during this one hour ceasefire. She wondered how it fit into his plan.

But she could tell that Susan was trying to change the subject to something lighter, and maybe that was what they needed. So she went with it, twisting her face into something that vaguely resembled a smile and glancing between Ernie and Susan. “An admirer?” she asked hesitantly before bettering her grin and tilting her head to the side. “Just one?”

Ernie looked at Susan, mildly flabbergasted. As it was, he wasn’t particularly interested in making light of the situation, but worse still was the subject she’d settled on. He shrugged uncomfortably shifting his eyes between the girls. “It worked,” he said in an insistent hiss. Ernie did genuinely smile at Hannah’s comment though. His attempts at modesty had never been particularly successful -- he liked being recognized for his accomplishments. “Why thank you, Hannah,” he said in all seriousness. “I would hope my tenure as Prefect in the last few years has garnered a modest amount of admirers -- and perhaps a critic or two.” He cracked a small smile, deciding to completely ignore the implications Susan, and perhaps Hannah, had been insinuating.

Looking around the room, he too noticed the Weasley family, his smile fading quickly as it had come. Who would have thought he’d see a Weasley twin, or Professor Lupin among the dead? They were fine wizards, both of them. He sighed, turning toward the girls again. “I love you both,” he said very seriously. He hoped they would be together again when it was all over, but if anything, being in the Great Hall was proof that death could come for anyone.

Hannah squeezed her eyes shut tightly, willing herself not to cry. She feared that once she started it would be impossible to stop. “I love you, too,” she whispered before opening her eyes and repeating it more loudly. “I love you.” Hannah reached out to her two best friends in the world and pulled them into a close embrace. She never wanted to let go.

There was no time for lightness, not in a place like this, and Susan simply sighed at her failed attempt, hugging her friends close. “Me too,” she said. It was horrid to think that this might be the last time they were together like this, but the odds weren’t on their side. Susan held on just a little bit more tightly. “Don’t die,” she mumbled, her words lost in the general chaos around them. “Please don’t die.”


Rhys + Oliver Wood.

It felt like there were bodies everywhere. Whether it was people who were actually dead or just looked it and it made him uncomfortable. Rhys was entirely out of his element. In no ways was this fight, technically he shouldn't have even been allowed to stay because he wasn't yet seventeen. For another nineteen days he was still a child by magical standards. Only after what he had seen in the past couple of hours, he certainly didn't feel that way.

Violent and dangerous as it was, he couldn't help but admit that it was a little bit fun. And really that made him a whole lot of fucked up right now. Still, he at least an hour to kill and staying tucked away in a corner of the Great Hall was already a way to spend it.

Not when one very loud thought was constantly running through his head. It wasn't even really a thought so much as it was a word. RUN. It wouldn't even be that hard, with all of the chaos, he could easily make a run for it, go hide somewhere and save himself. Rhys never claimed to be a particularly good or brave man, and there wasn't anyone he would let down by not risking his life anymore.

Except that there was no place to go. After the decision he made to stay and fight, no matter what happened, he didn't exactly see the Goyles allowing him to stay with him. Rhys finally picked a side and it wasn't the one that the family was on.

Scrubbing his face he knew that there wasn't really a choice here, just the illusion of choice.

Still, he couldn't just sit here, letting the reality eat into him more. A few feet away he overhead a group of former students setting up a patrol to go find other causalities and bring them back.

"Fuck it," he said to himself. Rhys jumped off the bench and walked over to who he then recognized as former, insane, Gryffindor quidditch captain - Oliver Wood. The guy had style. Of course he looked like shit right now, but Rhys didn't think he looked any better. "I can help," he offered, needing to do something to pass the time.

There was no going back now.



Harry prepares to die.

Nearly half an hour allotted for his surrender had passed, and the castle was empty. Harry felt like a ghost, moving around under his Invisibility Cloak, almost as if he had already died. He knew what he had to do now, Snape’s memories having made everything almost startlingly clear. It didn’t make it any easier to go ahead. Every step he took was an effort, his own heartbeat sounding impossibly loud to his ears. A heartbeat that would soon sound no longer.

Harry paid no attention now as he moved through the castle, the evidence of the battle obvious by the ruin the castle had become, smears of blood trailing down the walls in places, the portrait people missing from their frames. Part of him wanted to be stopped as he passed through the Entrance Hall, so close to where all the life left at Hogwarts was gathered, mourning their dead and nursing the injured, but no one did.

He nearly walked into Neville and Oliver Wood, carrying the body of Colin Creevey, looking so very tiny in death. It took Harry a few moments to recover, and then he followed Neville out into the darkness, struck by a sudden idea. He needed to make sure.

Kill the snake. Neville would do what needed to be done, would take Harry’s place in the secret that Dumbledore had entrusted to him, to make sure that none of the Horcruxes would survive. Even as Harry’s chest tightened with the knowledge what had to happen, it made him feel just a bit calmer in leaving Hogwarts behind. There was no time to say goodbye, not to Ron or Hermione, or even Ginny, who was so very close. He forced himself to move on from her, so tempted to stay, reach out for her and touch a strand of fiery red hair.

But he was home. Hogwarts had always been his home, and he would die here. Even through his determination, there was a deep-seated fear. It would have been easier, to die saving one of his friends. It took a whole different kind of bravery to walk to his own death like this. As he felt the chill of the Dementors, gliding around the trees in the distance, he wasn’t sure that he would be able to pass through safely. Everything he had gone through had left him exhausted, no strength or happy memories left to cast a Patronus. This time he was on his own, no Ron or Hermione, or Dumbledore’s Army to help. He had to be the one, and no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t give up now. The long game was ended, the Snitch had been caught, it was time to leave the air...

The Snitch. Harry’s nerveless fingers fumbled with the pouch of his neck and he pulled it out. I open at the close. Breathing fast and hard, he stared down at it. Now that he wanted time to move as slowly as possible, it seemed to have sped up, and understanding was coming so fast it seemed to have bypassed thought. This was the close. This was the moment.

He pressed the golden metal to his lips and whispered, “I am about to die.”



Neville kills Nagini.

Kill the snake.

It was one of the final things Harry had said to him, and it echoed in his mind even as he stood defiantly in front of Voldemort. He wasn’t going to fall for Pureblood manipulations. He wasn’t going to be anyone’s Death Eater. He’d never join them, never, and he’d die proving it.

A trickle of sweat ran down his temple as he thrust his wand hand into the air. Harry would have wanted it this way. He’d had a plan. Neville could only assume it ended with killing Lord Voldemort, and that Harry’d have wanted them to fight rather than kowtow to Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Harry had given his life trying to save them. His loss was so deeply felt that it ripped through Neville and filled him with a surge of vengeance. They couldn’t just stop now that Harry was dead. They needed to continue with his goal. Neville was not about to let Harry die in vain.

“Dumbledore’s Army!” he cried, pumping his fist.

The echo from the crowd made his heart leap, and he stood tall, ready to lead them into mutiny against Voldemort. His eyes flickered to Nagini, wrapped around Voldemort’s shoulders. Killing her was his first objective. He knew his second objective, too. He’d kill the snake, and then he’d kill Voldemort.

Unless someone killed him first.

He didn’t realize, however, that his final moments might come sooner than he expected, and he set his jaw as Voldemort summoned something out of the castle. The Sorting Hat, old and rumpled, and of no use to Voldemort, who spoke of plans for a future full of Slytherins. It made Neville’s blood roil, but as soon as he opened his mouth to shoot back a retort, he was put into a powerful body bind that nearly took his breath away. He watched the hat sail toward him, and in a breath, he saw nothing but the worn material inside the hat.

He expected to hear its voice, the old, familiar tone which had hummed and deliberated over where it could possibly place him for quite some time, but there was nothing. There was nothing but quiet.

I need to get out of this, Neville thought desperately. I need to kill the snake. For Harry. For all of us.

The hat started to contract around his head.

Please, please. If I kill it, we’ll be that much closer. Please.

The brim of the hat continued to squeeze his head tightly. Neville was sure Voldemort was responsible, squeezing him until his skull split open, but he was absolutely defenseless.

Suddenly, something heavy and hard dropped onto his skull with a thud, and everything was on fire.

Neville’s hair started to smoke, but he was still firmly rooted to the ground, burning alive. Then, by some miracle, the spell was released. He wasted no time in flinging the hat off of his head, and when he did, the object that had brained him was just visible in the tattered, smoldering rags. It was the silver hilt of a sword. The sword of Gryffindor. The sword he’d tried to steal with Ginny and Luna.

Kill the snake, he remembered Harry saying. The sword had been important to Dumbledore and Harry. This was what it was meant for. Somehow, Neville just knew.

Not missing a beat, Neville picked up the sword and ran towards Voldemort. There were giants and centaurs stampeding around them, but he paid them no mind, his eyes on Nagini. The great snake lifted its head from its masters shoulders and opened its mouth in a menacing hiss as he approached. Her tongue barely flickered before Neville raised the sword.

He brought it down in a fluid motion - possibly the most graceful thing he’d ever done - directly behind her head. He expected resistance, but it never came. The sword’s blade was so sharp it cut right through Nagini’s body, flinging her head high into the air. Voldemort screamed and Neville turned to him, meeting his slitted gaze with a look of fierce determination and triumph.

This was it.

Then all hell broke loose.



Hogsmeade.

Tracey and Juliet.

Once Juliet reached the end of the pathway she found herself in what appeared to be a bar, and after glancing outside she realized it was the Hogs Head. The small bar was becoming increasingly crowded as more and more students made their way outside of the portrait hole, and she looked around for Tracey, uncomfortable with the noise and the number of students, a number of who seemed extremely upset and some of who were crying. Juliet didn’t do well with emotions.

She spotted her friend and approached her, likely looking as frazzled as she felt. She just wanted to get out of here, to go home and try to sleep. News would be out in the morning, and though she thought it unlikely that a handful of students and professors could hold off You Know Who and his followers, she supposed miracles had happened before.

“Thank goodness I passed my apparition exam and can just head home,” she said. “Are you okay to go home? Do you have any news from your parents? You can come home with me, if you’d like, and then try to contact them tomorrow - I’m sure my parents wouldn’t mind.”

“Huh? Oh hey Juliet,” Tracey said, as she snapped out of her thoughts, when the familiar voice of her friend entered her hearing, the other girl’s words not at all registering in her pensive mind. She had isolated herself from the crowd, mentally at least, as she tried to decide whether she was going to come back or not. She kept thinking back to her conversation with Morag and Lisa. She had something to fight for didn’t she? Her mother was muggleborn, surely she had to stand for that? And now here was Juliet offering her and tempting her to just go home and forget about all this. She should just listen to her and just go with the girl. Juliet had always been her voice of reason, after all.

But then Tracey didn’t always follow through with what Juliet had always said.

“Listen to me,” Tracey began, as she took the girl by the shoulders. “Go home, apparate out of here and stay safe,” she continued, before pausing and taking a breath as though bracing herself for what she just decided and what she was sure she needed to do. “I’m going back. Don’t come after me, okay?”

“Wait, what?” asked Juliet, trying to process what Tracey had said. She couldn’t be going back - she’d never survive. There were some students there that maybe would get out, but there’s no way the vast majority of them would. And she couldn’t lose her best friend.

“You’re going back?! But why? Tracey, we just got out. You can’t go back. You can’t even make a corporeal patronus! Come home with me, please. It’s too risky.”

Tracey’s lips pursed in a thin line, determination strong within her, as she tried not to be tempted by Juliet’s offer. She had to do this. She knew she did. It didn’t matter that they failed in attempting to secretly produce patronuses. The fact that she was even wondering if she should stay made clear sense that leaving wouldn’t be good enough.

And so she pulled Juliet into a fierce hug, trying not to think that it could possibly be the last time she would see the girl, her closest friend, that kept her sane throughout the whole year.

“I’m sorry but I have to do this,” Tracey began, still holding her. “You know I’ve been wondering all year with what to do and doing nothing about it. I know I have to do something now or else I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself,” she said, as a pang of emotion hit her then. Merlin. She didn’t need to cry. Not when she was about to put herself out there into battle and risk her life.

She pulled away then before she could feel anything else than a knot in her throat as she held Juliet by the shoulders again. “Just promise me, okay? Promise me that you won’t go after me and that all you’re going to do right now is to keep yourself safe and nothing else,” she repeated, a stubborn look of determination on her face. It was the least she could do. They did almost everything - decided on what to do with almost everything together, after all, but this was one thing Tracey was going to make sure Juliet wasn’t going to do.

“God dammit, Tracey,” Juliet said, feeling a knot in her stomach begin to form. She knew her friend was stubborn, but this was crazy. There wasn’t going to be any talking her out of it, though. If Juliet was better with any magic that could be helpful she may have considered it herself, but as none of the battles were likely to be competitions in History of Magic, and since she was unlikely to be able to Arithmancize or Runes her way out of anything, she’d be more of a hindrance than a help.

“You’re so goddamn stubborn. Okay, fine. But try to stick with charms, I guess. Or transfigure things that’ll help. Those are two of your strongest classes, so stick with them, rather than trying to do anything you’re not completely confident in.” She thought back to Dueling Club and tried to remember what they’d learned. At least it came in handy for something. “Disarming can come in handy, if you’re quick enough. Never turn your back to the opponent. And don’t be afraid to completely incapacitate them, if you can. They’re not going to show any mercy on you, so don’t show any on them.”

She shook her head again, and then reached her hand out to squeeze her friend’s hand. “There’s nothing I can do to talk you out of it?”

Tracey felt the weight of the battle before her coming down on her, as Juliet gave her a quick run down of what she can do. She didn’t even honestly think about the fact whether she was ready or not to fight. All she knew was that she had to, that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that wanted to stay told her she had to.

And clearly, Juliet knew this, as Tracey absorbed each and every tip Juliet gave her. She honestly didn’t know what she would do without the girl.

And now she was putting herself in the line where she would possibly not see Juliet - She needed to stop thinking that. She was going to come back. She had to. Even though quite honestly, she knew it was a possibility she couldn’t.

“You’ve tried so many times before to tell me not to do things but I still do. I don’t think it’s going to work with this time around,” Tracey said, trying to sound amusing and comforting, only to look at her friend with concern. She didn’t want to leave her like this. She didn’t want to be saying good bye.

“I’ll be back. I promise,” Tracey said, trying to sound convincing, unsure of how much she really meant that herself.

“Of course you will,” Juliet said with nod, trying to sound more confident than she felt. Her mind wandered to the fact that coming back wouldn’t really mean much if the other side won. That that the administration would arrest Tracey, and then go after her family and, no doubt, her mother. She didn’t mention this, though, because she didn’t want the other side to win - the past few months had clarified that being on their side didn’t ensure safety and that with a background like hers, even if she was on the IS and could stomach doing what they wanted her to do, she wasn’t going to get anywhere.

So she gave Tracey a quick hug, and then shook her head again. “Okay, go before I do something totally out of character like cry or something. And for fuck’s sake, please try to come back in one piece. Multiple pieces would just be so messy.”

Tracey just smiled, a grateful look on her face at Juliet’s words. This was why she can count on her. That even in moments like this, where she did the very opposite thing, Juliet still supported her. And before she could say anything else that would make the both of them cry, Tracey let go of the girl, feeling much more prepared - at least, in better spirits, as she went to go look for Lisa and finally do something, instead of falling back and doing nothing.


Andrew and Yue.

Running a hand through his hair, Andrew looked around. The children were settled and Professor Slughorn was gathering forces to return to Hogwarts, to help.

To help.

Andrew hesitated only a moment before he made his decision. He'd go back. Emily needed him, and he'd be buggered if he was going to let the lot of them hand the Death Eaters their arses without being able to get a bit of his own back. He'd been quiet long enough. Far too long, actually.

Spotting Yue, Andrew headed over to him. He needed someone to be in charge, and he wasn't sure where Bethany was just now. Yue would do it. "Yue, mate, need a favor."

Having made sure Minnie was settled, Yue was now concentrating on other tasks while trying very hard not to think about Molly, Nathan, Cal, Geoff and all his other friends currently fighting for their lives back at Hogwarts. Yet he paused when Professor Slughorn announced his decision to return with reinforcements, chewing on his lower lip. He’d promised he wouldn’t get involved, but...

Andrew’s voice broke into his thoughts and Yue turned. “Yeah?”

"I need you to keep an eye on the kids. I - I'm going back with Slughorn." Andrew met Yue's eyes and gave him a little smile. "My girlfriend's up there, after all. I'll look like a complete berk if I don't go back."

He didn't mention the need to show everyone that he wasn't the IS's tame Gryffindor, though that urge was there.

“My best mates are there and I’m here, does that make me a berk then?” the words shot out of Yue’s mouth before he could stop them, but the moment they did, he winced. “Sorry... that was uncalled for, I’m not mad at you,” he ran his hand through this hair, swallowing hard, unable to return the smile, but clearly regretting venting his tension on Andrew. “I would, but I should go too, I’m good at Charms, healing ones too, they’ll probably need that,” he said, ignoring the many points against this idea (Minnie, promises to Hannah, Nathan et cetera, keeping Spencer from joining the fray).

Andrew winced too and sighed as he shook his head. "No, it doesn't, but you weren't the one on the IS all year," he said quietly. He didn't like the idea of Yue going - he needed someone he trusted here and there were other reasons, too. "And if you go and something happens to you? What's to become of Minnie?"

Left unsaid was the fact that if Andrew died, he didn't think too many would miss him. No one depended on him like Minnie did Yue.

Yue’s gaze slid to his little sister who was curled up in a corner with some of the other first years, he’d sneakily cast a sleep spell on them. Better they slept than stayed awake and fretted. Emotional pain twisted his features briefly. “I know... I fucking know...” he whispered and then wiped his eyes quickly, not ashamed of the tears that had gathered there. He sniffed and then mentally pulled himself together, closing his eyes and exhaling.

Looking at Andrew, he nodded. “I’ll look after them,” he said and then, finally, managed a weak smile. “I expect you to come back and take over though,” Yue gave Andrew a quick thump on the shoulder.

Andrew felt a wave of relief flood over him and he nodded. He gave Yue a cocky grin that reflected not at all how nervous he felt. "Of course I will. I want to make Head Boy next year - can't do that if I'm pushing up the daisies, can I?"

He grew serious a moment, though, as the possibility really hit him. Right. It wouldn't happen, but just in case it did ... "Thanks, Yue. You're a good mate. And if …" He broke off, unable to continue a moment. "Tell my mum, yeah?"

Yue frowned slightly. The prospect of Andrew dying made him feel sick inside. “Of course,” he said quietly, wondering then how many other mums he might be telling bad news to by tomorrow morning.

“But I’ll bet you’ll be talking her ear off about what a hero you were in the morning,” he managed a better smile than the first, masking the dread inside, and then - because doing the manly reserve thing just seemed stupid right now - he gave Andrew a quick hug, thumping him on the back with the flat of his hand. “Don’t do anything stupid, yeah?”

Andrew hugged Yue back, quick and tight, ignoring the anxiety that surged within him. "My own advice thrown back into my face, I see. Some mate you are," he said, though he smiled as he said it, to show he was teasing. "Take care, Yue, and thanks."

He met Yue's eyes, nodded once, and turned. This was it. He'd stop being the Carrows' token Gryffindor and show them what he really felt.


Student Daycare: Juliet and Bethany.

Everything was so chaotic and the only response she could have to that was to find more order here. She needed a head count of the students. She needed to start the process of contacting parents. She needed the younger years to stop pulling on her robes because they were scared. They were all scared. And Bethany was grasping at straws to find order here. There was an attack just up at the castle and nothing was sacred, nothing was safe anymore. The whole world was upside down. Once everyone was through, Bethany started making lists again and identifying the people who might actually be of help rather than just running or frantic.

She was barely holding it together, but someone had to keep their wits about them. With help of a few other she had managed to settle them into some sort of false calmness, waiting in the Hogs Head Inn for their parents to come get them or find a way to someone else’s home because if Hogwarts was under attack, then Hogsmeade couldn’t be that much safer either. At least they had been managed to get a hold of the families of students still fighting. Bethany had been going since they lead the younger Gryffindors out because she needed to be doing, but now that the reinforcements were one their way up to the castle she suddenly felt at a loss of things to do. Bethany set her ledger down on the bar, flipped to a new page and started making a new list. “They’re all going to get themselves killed,” she said under her breath not meaning to say it out loud.

Juliet had been planning on going home, but then Tracey decided to go back to the school, and she knew there was no way she’d be able to sleep, or do anything else, really. So she’d stayed, joining Bethany in her quest to bring order where there wasn’t any, even if first year students were one of her least favorite parts of the castle. It was awkward, because they were asking questions she didn’t know the answer to, and she didn’t feel right telling them everything would be fine when she didn’t know that herself. But then one of them started crying when she said that she didn’t know if their older sibling would come back alive and Juliet got flustered, telling them that actually they would be fine and retreating to Bethany at the bar. “Don’t say that where they’ll hear,” she said, glancing back at the still sniffing student. “They start crying, and I have no idea what to do when they do that.”

Bethany startled just a little. She was tired - exhausted really, but that was probably the adrenaline wearing off. “I have no idea what to do with them when they are not crying.” She honestly couldn’t understand them. Even in her tenure as prefect, she hadn’t really gotten used to the first or even second years. All those tiny people mucking about, touching things, and now they were scared and she just wanted them to no longer be her problem. (Not that it was technically her problem, but she had taken it upon her and she couldn’t just abandon them.)

“I mean don’t they have families?” She dropped her voice, really not wanting to be accidentally overhead now. “People who care? Something?” How she wished that the bar was serving right now.

Juliet was momentarily distracted, watching Yue, who seemed to be doing much better with the younger students than either of them were. Which made sense, as he had a younger sister. “I suppose this is what I get for being an only child,” she said, rubbing her eyes and glancing back at Bethany.

Shaking her head she peered over at the list that Bethany was working on. “Well, they weren’t really expecting to be contacted at... what time is it now? Five in the morning? How many do we have left, anyways?” They definitely had less then what they’d started with, but there were enough to confirm to Juliet that the night wasn’t over yet. Not that she had anything better to be doing. “I’m sure they’ll show up eventually. Do you want me to try contacting families again,” she asked, immediately struck by an unfortunate idea that gave her a knot in her stomach. “Do you think some of them... don’t have families? Like...” she nodded in the direction of Yue and his sister, not wanting to draw their attention by saying their names.

Bethany glanced over to Yue, thinking about that family, but also the MacDougals and even the Hopkinses - how many other families had been pulled apart because of the war? How many people really didn’t have anyone to come for them? She swallowed hard. That was one thing her handy little ledger didn’t contain. “Yeah, let’s try again...see if there is anyone, aunt, uncle, kind neighbor.”

People were going to die tonight she knew that. If she was being honest that had been a reality of the school since Michael Corner’s torture - and of course his sister was still sitting there waiting for this to be over too. Only now death wasn’t just a possibility, but a reality. And so many of them were still children, they shouldn’t have to deal with this stuff. “We should also try to get a hold of the families of the students who went back to the school.”

“I can talk to them and try to figure out what other contacts there might be,” Juliet said with a resigned sigh. “And practice my cleaning charms, for when they cry all over me.”

She started her own list, of the people who had returned, and then shook her head. “I don’t know about contacting those families, actually. Lisa’s sister Penny stayed behind, so she knows, and she’s old enough to get home and tell her family. But some of the Slytherins - Tracey and Ian, for example - I don’t know how thrilled their families would be about their returning.” Tracey’s family situation had been difficult lately, to say the least, and even though she didn’t think her father had yet given in to Death Eater pressure, she also didn’t think they’d have wanted her to stay behind and fight. And she didn’t know anything about Ian’s family situation, but since he was Abigail’s cousin, she could make an educated guess that his return wasn’t the most family-friendly decision. “There are some, like Kirke, who I guess we could. But I think we need to be careful with some of them, not knowing family dynamics.” Sighing again, she shook her head. “They better win, because otherwise Tracey and Ian just put themselves in a really bad situation in Slytherin and in their families for no reason.”

She hadn’t really thought about that part, but even if families were complicated... No, Bethany couldn’t even really make that conclusion. Nothing made sense right now. And Andrew. He went back. Not to mention there were a number of students who were unaccounted for right now. Even if they did win, there was no way of knowing what the cost would be.

Bethany scrubbed her face. “I’ll see if I can get a hold of his mother, and go over my list of those who went back again if you can try the family’s of those still here again?” And when this was over, and it would be over one way or the other, she was definitely going to suggest some indulgent experience because planning for that helped give her some sense of focus.

Juliet was slightly distracted by thoughts of Tracey back at the castle, but she shook herself out of it and nodded. “Yeah, I can do that. I’ll see if I can get other family members or family friends for the one still here, and then work on contacting them. We can regroup after that.” Stretching briefly she turned to the students, and then glanced back at Bethany. “Wish me luck!” she said, and then headed to the nearest student, armed with a handkerchief and a contact list, to try to get as much information before the waterworks started again.


Spencer and Yue.

While Bethany and Juliet were busy trying to contact families, Yue took it on himself to calm the younger years. Although inside he was in turmoil, his stomach churning and his imagination going wild, he didn’t show it as he wiped away tears, dispensed hugs, offered soothing words and in general ensured that even if the kids were one hundred percent convinced they’d be fine, they weren’t in hysterics. It helped him too, stopped him from thinking about his friends fighting, maybe dying, and how he felt like the biggest coward, even if logic told him there was little choice.

As time wore on, some students were picked up, but there were still a number who were left behind. Minnie was asleep, curled up with her friends on some cushions Yue had transfigured out of various bits and pieces, a blanket that was once his robe covering the four little girls. Wearily he sat back on one of the benches, twirling his wand between his fingers. Still there was no word of how the battle was going and he wondered what would happen if the worst came to the worst.

Spencer had been with Sarah the whole time. His sister had the onerous task of trying to keep him calm and keep him from running back into the fray. Finally Sarah pronounced him calm enough to be allowed to go looking for his boyfriend. He was pretty sure that Yue had gone with Minnie but there was a niggling worry in the back of his mind that he had stayed to fight.

Spencer found him, not surprisingly, with the small children. For a moment he watched Yue watch Minnie sleep and he wondered how much longer Yue would stay with him. Yue was a man, with adult responsibilities and a young sister to raise. He was still just a boy who wasn’t even allowed to fight for his own freedom. Before he overwhelmed himself with worried thoughts he approached Yue and placed a careful hand on his shoulder, “How’re you doing?” he asked his voice pitched quiet so as not to wake the younger children.

Yue was so absorbed in his thoughts that he wasn’t even really aware of Spencer’s approach. He jumped slightly and then the tension bled away when he realised it was his boyfriend, a slightly nervous laugh, more a shaky huff of breath, escaping. “As well as can be expected, I suppose,” he pocketed his wand and took Spencer’s hands, pulling the younger boy down so he could wrap his arms around him. He’d been giving out the comfort and receiving very little himself, so right now he needed to be selfish. “You?”

“Sarah finally let me leave her sight. She was worried I was going to run off and do something stupid.”

Spencer buried his face in Yue’s shoulder soaking up every bit of comfort he could get on this hellish night. He wrapped his arms tightly around Yue’s face and spoke into his boyfriends neck, “I was so fucking scared you stayed.”

“I wanted to,” Yue admitted. “I was going to, but then... Molly, Nathan, Declan... they wouldn’t let me. Practically shoved me out the door and I suspect would have bound and gagged me if I’d protested more,” his mouth twisted and he sighed against Spencer’s hair. “I know... they’re right, I have Minnie to protect,” and you, he thought, but didn’t say as he was sure that Spencer wouldn’t appreciate Yue thinking he needed protection, “but I’m the only one... of all the Gryffindor sixth years, who isn’t fighting. I feel like such a coward.”

Spencer looked up at Yue his hazel eyes fierce, “Don’t ever fucking say that again, do you understand? You aren’t a coward. You’re the only person in your year who has a child to raise. That isn’t a fucking coward, Yue, that’s the bravest most amazing man I know.”

Yue blinked, taken aback by Spencer’s fierce gaze and vehement words. He blinked again and his gaze lowered slightly. Deep down he knew he wasn’t a coward, and it certainly wasn’t fear holding him back, but he couldn’t help wondering if anyone else would believe it apart from Spencer, oh and those of his friends who’d pushed him out the door. That was if the battle went their way and they all lived.

Swallowing, he nodded and raised his eyes to meet Spencer’s again. “I’m sorry... I won’t...” his expression turned searching then. “And you know that you’re no coward either, right? I know how much you wanted to stay and fight as well.”

Spencer shrugged and let his gaze drop, “I wanted to so bad. But Sarah made me stay. Told me that it would be a dumbass thing to get myself killed before I could see Mum again,” he looked back up at Yue, “I still want to. So, so badly I want to go back in there and hunt down that murdering son of a bitch and show him how all those people felt right before he killed them or had them killed. But I can’t. I’m too young. And it would kill Sarah if anything happened to me.”

The mental image of Spencer up against Voldemort sent a shudder through Yue and his arms tightened. “It would kill me too,” he admitted, before he’d even really thought about what he was saying. However, he meant it. Spencer had become just as important to him as Molly, Nathan and Cal, and he didn’t want to imagine a world without him in it.

Spencer glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention to the two of them before pulling Yue’s face down for a desperate kiss. Spencer couldn’t tell Yue how much those words meant but he hoped that the kiss could convey his meaning without words.

Yue could feel everything Spencer wanted to say, but couldn’t, and responded with equal intensity and yearning. Tears slid down his cheeks, adding a salty flavour to their kiss. When they parted, he wiped his cheek and leaned his forehead against Spencer’s. “Is your dad coming to get you and Sarah?” he asked softly, deciding that if Spencer was leaving, he would hold him for as long as he could.

Spencer shook his head, “Not yet. We convinced him that it would be best to stay home in case Mum found out what happened and came home. They need each other more than we need him. Sarah and I have each other and I have you so we’re fine.”

Shifting slightly so that they were sitting more comfortably, Yue nodded. “Then we’ll wait together,” he murmured, hoping that everyone else would be fine too, and he would shortly see his friends alive and well.


Cecilia and Hugo.

Hugo walked around Hogs Head in search for a particular brunette girl, eyes frantic as though in a haste to find who he was looking for. He was in a haste, after all, his uncle would be coming anytime now along with the other parents to get him and his friends and take them away from this mess. In all honesty, there was nothing Hugo wanted more than just to do just that. But now that the war officially started, he knew lives were at stake. His own life could be at stake.

There would be things left unsaid if he didn’t act now, and so he went to seek out Cecilia Barbary, before they all would part ways and possibly not even see her any more.

“Cecilia!” Hugo called as he spotted the girl, feeling a bit relieved that he caught her before he left, as he literally ran to where she was, before pulling her into his arms without hesitancy.

Cece was in a corner, knees up to her chest and her arms around them, biting down so hard on her lower lip that it was bright red. Her parents had been contacted and they were on their way, but she was so frightened. How had things come to this? Her world was crumbling around her ears and she, once so sure about what side she supported, was actually hoping that side would lose. But how could the kids fighting against the Dark Lord win? They were all going to die and even if she hated some of them, she didn’t want that. She never wanted that.

Hugo’s voice broke through her despairing fog and she abruptly unfolded, on her feet by the time he reached her. But his hug broke her tenuous grip on self-control and she burst into tears, clinging to him. “Hugo... oh... Hugo...” Cece sobbed, burying her face in his shoulder.

Hugo held Cecilia tight, arms circling around protectively, letting the girl sob on his shoulder like he has always done for her. The whole situation put him in such a panic that he honestly wanted to sob too. But he couldn’t do that. He was Hugo Beery. He can’t sob. And especially not when Cecilia needed him - especially not when there were things he needed to say. “Shhh,” Hugo cooed, his own voice faltering a bit however, as he rubbed Cecilia’s back comfortingly. He wished that they could just hold each other like this forever. But time wasn’t working in their favor, and soon enough he forced himself to break the tight and comforting hold he had around her.

He pulled away slightly, if only to look at Cecilia’s face, his hand holding her cheek comfortingly, but his expression broken at not only seeing the girl in distraught but also because of the panic building in him. “I know you’re scared. I’m scared too. I don’t know what’s happening or what’s going to happen. But I know one thing. And I think I’ve always known it all along,” he said, forcing a certain firmness to the voice despite the clear worry and panic lining his tone. He felt his heart beating quick, now not only of the panic, but by the sheer care and concern and feeling he had for this girl that he had fought and defended over the past couple of months.

“I love you,” Hugo finally said, a rush of emotions coming out with the words. Worry, concern, care, passion, relief... He felt as though he should have said it sooner. He felt as though maybe it was was much too soon to say it. But he said it. He finally said it.

Call him a love sick, obsessed and naive sixteen year old boy, but he had to. He needed to, especially when the war was threatening to break everything that meant something to him. And Cecilia, he felt, right now and at that point in time where his whole year had almost been devoted to just wanting to be with this girl that meant so much to him...

She certainly seemed to be his everything.

Cece clung tightly to Hugo, soaking up the comfort she so desperately and that Hugo always seemed to provide. A bitter thought crossed her mind that if she hadn’t wasted so much time on Declan the cheater, she and Hugo would have been together. If only she had an inkling of what was going to happen, she would have grabbed her chance as soon as she could. Now it was too late, they would only be friends and...

Hugo’s words broke through her self-recrimination and she stifled her sobs, pressing her lips together as she listened to him. For a moment she thought she was dreaming, but of course she wasn’t, a dream wouldn’t feel this real. She started at him with wide eyes framed by lashes spiky from tears, her lips forming a small ‘o’ as Hugo confessed.

“Hugo...” she murmured, blinking a couple of times. Cece’s heart swelled with an overwhelming feeling of love for the boy holding her. It was more intense than anything she had felt with Declan and rather than think that Hugo had confessed too late or early, to Cece the timing was just right. As their world crashed around them, Hugo had proved that he was the one she could rely on. “Oh Hugo... I love you too!” she said passionately, her fingers tightening on his shirt. “I think... no, I know... I loved you before I knew I did...” she swallowed, blinking away more tears. “I’m sorry, I wish we’d had more time.”

“I know... I know...” Hugo said, not knowing what else to say, as he pulled their foreheads together, a breath apart and if only to be close to the girl that truly did return the same feelings he had for her. He felt a huge wave of different kinds of emotions soaring through him. She had returned the words back! She felt the same way, as he did. He knew she did. He knew that even as she sought after Mclaggen, they always and always have something special.

“Hugo! Time to go!”

And now that something special was going to be taken away from him, broken apart with the huge uncertainty looming in the horizon.

“I’ll find you, okay? After all this mess and this chaos, we’ll be together. I promise,” Hugo said hastily but with a certain intensity in his voice. And before Cecilia could say any else, Hugo pressed his lips over hers, clear and without hesitation, in a kiss that he hope wouldn’t be their last.

“Hugo Beery!”

Hugo reluctantly broke the kiss as he heard his name again, as he gulped down the panic of the reality that they were in.

“Don’t forget,” Hugo said, as he gave Cecilia another hug and kiss on the forehead, before her finally let go. And though, the rush and chaos of their current situation filled his atmosphere again, a part of his heart was at least peace knowing that Cecilia knew how much he cared about her.